Are you ready for Tet in Vietnam yet?

Unless you’re in solitary confinement, you know Tet is coming. Yes, folks, it’s that time of the year for giant sound systems, end of year parties, shopping madness and babies hanging off the front of motorbikes in the cutest brand new clothes mum could find. Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, begins on the 16th of February (Western calendar) 2018. It’s both one of my favorite times of the year and frequently the most stressful. The shops are jammed full of locals stocking up on food, gifts and offerings for the celebrations that occur over the four official days of Tet. Please note that stocks of little red envelopes for the lucky money run out pretty quick too. If you’re part of the non-75% complaining expat crowd, Tet is a fun time to be around. Lots of party invites, unless you’re Daniel Hauer and off the A-list. And with many Vietnamese out of town, it’s a rather quiet time. As I’ve mentioned recently in other articles, you need to plan for the biggest national holiday of the year. ATMs run out of money and are sometimes not re-stocked for a few days. Banks and plenty of expat and local businesses shut and half the population head back to their hometowns to spend time with relatives and take a break from the relentless pace of life in Vietnam. It’s surprising just how much goes on at this time of year. Flowers and fruit trees, cherry blossom branches and other deco items fly… [Read full story]

Reed Tradex ready with Vietnam industrialists to catch new investment wave (Illustrative image. Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Exhibition organiser ReedTradex is ready to work with Vietnam industrialists to catch a new investmentwave, said KasineePhantteeranurak, Project Manager of Reed Tradex Co., Ltd. in a specialinterview. The manager noted that 2016 has closed withthe great success of the10th year of Reed Tradex in Vietnam. Thecompany has welcomed over 30,000 quality visitors in two economic hubs ofVietnam which are Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City. According to Kasinee Phantteeranurak, in many ways, Vietnamis the emerging market in Asian region with high investment…... [Read more]

Son La gets ready for Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties anniversary (Photo: VNA) Son La (VNA) – The northern mountainous province ofSon La has to date completed all preparations for the 55th anniversary of theVietnam-Laos diplomatic ties scheduled for July 4-7.Within the framework of the “Vietnam-Laos Friendship andSolidarity Year 2017”, Son La was assigned to host activities to celebrate thisanniversary as well as to mark 40 years since the two countries signed a Treatyon Amity and Cooperation.The activities include a ceremony to present the VietnamesePresident’s insignia to leaders of 15 Lao provinces, the second Vietnam-Laosborder cultural, sport and tourism festive day, the inauguration…... [Read more]

Vietnam’s health ministry has recommended that people think twice about having a favorite blood-based dish if they do not want to enjoy the upcoming Lunar New Year, or Tet holiday, on a sickbed. Raw blood soup is the biggest cause of streptococcus suis infection in humans, so people are advised to remove this dish from their Tet menu, the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the health ministry said in a recent announcement. Raw blood soup, or tiet canh in Vietnamese, is a dish made of the raw blood of ducks, geese, or pigs, with peanuts and herbs on top.…... [Read more]

Sugi Ryotaro, Akikawa Masafumi, Rimi Nastukawa, Shimatani Hitomi and the band W-inds will perform with Thanh Lam, My Linh, My Tam, Ho Quynh Huong, Trong Tan and Tan Minh in the first-ever spectacular music show at the National Convention Centre. The show will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television and rebroadcast later on the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK). Addressing a press briefing in Hanoi on May 23, Vietnam-Japan Special Friendship Ambassador Sugi Ryotaro, who is also Japan-Vietnam Goodwill Ambassador to Vietnam, affirmed that the gala provides a chance for the two countries to promote cultural exchange in line with their…... [Read more]

The Vietnam Mountain Bike Marathon 2017 will take place in Sapa and surrounding areas in northern Lao Cai province from November 3 to 5. Started last year by Topas Travel, the race proved to be an international event and more than 100 riders from 20 countries are registered this year.The combination of sporting events and tourism has potential to attract tourists and contribute to Sapa’s tourism development and is an opportunity to introduce and promote the image, culture, life and people to international friends.The race will take place in the mountainous region surrounding Sapa. With a backdrop of the highest…... [Read more]